EDITORIAL: Help us fill this empty stocking

Published: Friday, November 29, 2013 at 03:29 PM.

Northwest Florida is nothing if not generous. It’s filled with people willing to donate their time, talents and money to help those less fortunate. In just one edition of the Daily News this week, readers found stories about:
 A coalition of local churches, charities and other groups helping residents whose homes were damaged in July by flooding in Walton County.
 Volunteer ushers at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center in Niceville, whose work saves the theater at least $75,000 a year.
 The Air Force’s 353rd Special Operations Group, which is helping distribute relief supplies in the typhoon-ravaged Philippines.
There are plenty of other examples, from food drives to toy drives to all sorts of volunteer work.
Then there’s the Empty Stocking Fund, the annual fund-raising campaign sponsored by the Daily News and the Salvation Army. Money donated to the Empty Stocking Fund goes right back into our community through the Salvation Army’s social services, which assist the needy with — among other things — rent and utility payments
The Daily News has promoted the Empty Stocking Fund each Christmas season for almost 30 years.
And for 30 years the need in Okaloosa and Walton counties has remained constant. Speaking of the rate at which people sign up for assistance, Lt. Chris Welch of the Salvation Army said this week that “usually there’s a slower time, but there really wasn’t a slower time this year.”
The goal for the current Empty Stocking drive is $75,000. Anything you can give will be appreciated.
Tax-deductible donations to the Empty Stocking Fund can be dropped off at the Daily News office at the corner of Eglin Parkway and Hollywood Boulevard in Fort Walton Beach, or mailed to the newspaper at P.O. Box 2949; Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549.
Contributions also can be mailed to the Salvation Army at P.O. Box 1117; Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549.
All checks should be made payable to the Empty Stocking Fund. Please help us help our neighbors this holiday season.

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Northwest Florida is nothing if not generous. It’s filled with people willing to donate their time, talents and money to help those less fortunate. In just one edition of the Daily News this week, readers found stories about:
 A coalition of local churches, charities and other groups helping residents whose homes were damaged in July by flooding in Walton County.
 Volunteer ushers at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center in Niceville, whose work saves the theater at least $75,000 a year.
 The Air Force’s 353rd Special Operations Group, which is helping distribute relief supplies in the typhoon-ravaged Philippines.
There are plenty of other examples, from food drives to toy drives to all sorts of volunteer work.
Then there’s the Empty Stocking Fund, the annual fund-raising campaign sponsored by the Daily News and the Salvation Army. Money donated to the Empty Stocking Fund goes right back into our community through the Salvation Army’s social services, which assist the needy with — among other things — rent and utility payments
The Daily News has promoted the Empty Stocking Fund each Christmas season for almost 30 years.
And for 30 years the need in Okaloosa and Walton counties has remained constant. Speaking of the rate at which people sign up for assistance, Lt. Chris Welch of the Salvation Army said this week that “usually there’s a slower time, but there really wasn’t a slower time this year.”
The goal for the current Empty Stocking drive is $75,000. Anything you can give will be appreciated.
Tax-deductible donations to the Empty Stocking Fund can be dropped off at the Daily News office at the corner of Eglin Parkway and Hollywood Boulevard in Fort Walton Beach, or mailed to the newspaper at P.O. Box 2949; Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549.
Contributions also can be mailed to the Salvation Army at P.O. Box 1117; Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549.
All checks should be made payable to the Empty Stocking Fund. Please help us help our neighbors this holiday season.